Madhya Pradesh becomes first state to include Hindu members in Wakf Board after law change

The Madhya Pradesh government has reorganised the state's 10-member Wakf Board under the recently amended Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2025, making it the first state in the country to include non-Muslim members in such a board. The newly constituted body includes two Hindu members, a move that follows changes introduced by the amended law allowing non-Muslims to be part of state Wakf Boards.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav appointed Sanwar Patel as the chairman of the reconstituted board. The two Hindu members are Manoj Malpani and Animesh Bhargava. A gazette notification confirming the new board was issued on Sunday.

“Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to reorganise the Wakf Board under the new Act,” an official told news agency PTI. The state government exercised its powers under Section 13(1) of the Wakf Act, 1995, as amended in 2025, to constitute the board in line with the provisions of Section 14 of the Act.

The Wakf Board is a statutory body responsible for administering and safeguarding Wakf properties in the state. Its duties include maintaining records of Wakf properties, overseeing their use and income, protecting them from encroachment, and ensuring they are utilised for religious, educational, and social welfare purposes.

Besides chairman Sanwar Patel, the newly constituted board comprises Najma Heptulla from New Delhi, Atif Aqueel from Bhopal, Faizan Khan from Ujjain, Fatema Choudhary from Indore, Shaista Sultan, Shabana Khan, Manoj Malpani from Indore, and Animesh Bhargava from Raghogarh in Guna. The Commissioner of the Backwards Classes and Minority Welfare Department will serve as an ex-officio member.

According to the state government, Najma Heptulla, who was appointed under the elected category through a notification issued on April 19, 2023, under Section 14 of the Wakf Act, 1995, as amended in 2013, will continue as a member until April 18, 2028. Her name has been retained in the reconstituted board for the remainder of her tenure, an official spokesperson said.

The inclusion of Hindu members in the Wakf Board marks a significant development under the amended law, which aims to broaden representation in the management of Wakf properties. The move has drawn attention as it is the first instance of such diverse membership in a state-level Wakf Board in India.